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Italy : Formalities

Clearance

Italy is a member of the European Union and therefore vessels arriving from another EU country, with only EU nationals on board, are not required to complete any formalities. Occasionally boats may be subjected to spot checks by customs (Guardia di Finanza), especially in areas known for smuggling. The formalities described below apply primarily to non-EU boats, although EU boats will have to conform to some of them, such as the requirement to have a valid third party insurance certificate on board. It is therefore recommended that any yacht arriving in Italy from abroad should attempt to do so at a port which has customs and immigration offices to which the captain should report on arrival.

Both EU and non-EU boats arriving from a country outside the EU (Tunisia, Croatia, Albania, etc) must contact customs at the first Italian port. On arrival in a port of entry, boats from non-EU countries must clear with the port captain. One also has to clear with customs and immigration.

Officials are very unlikely to come to a yacht, so the captain must report to their offices. Yachts have got into trouble for failing to report to the authorities.

The captain may be asked to show a certificate of competence; other documents needed are the registration certificate and third-party liability insurance.

It is advisable to monitor VHF channel 16 when in Italian waters, as failure to respond to a call from a customs patrol can result in a stop and search operation.

Last updated June 2009.

Immigration

Italy is a member of the Schengen Agreement Area. See Noonsite' Schengen page for more details on the immigration rules.

It has been reported that Italian Immigration Authorities can be difficult if Italy is your first point of entry into the Schengen area but is not shown as such on your visa.

Last updated October 2008.

Customs

EU regulations apply concerning temporary importation. See EU VAT page for more information.

Firearms must be declared on arrival. The penalty for non-declaration is imprisonment.

Stop and search operations by Italian Police/Customs are not uncommon, and are more likely if a boat does not respond to an initial call on VHF channel 16.

Last updated October 2008.

Health

Seafood should not be consumed in areas of heavy pollution.

Documents

Yachts must carry their original registration document and ship's radio licence. One member of the crew must have a radio operator’s certificate of competence. For EU boats, proof of VAT status is also required.

A crew list showing surname, forename, date and place of berth, function on board, passport number and nationality.

The proof of insurance requirements are exacting; proof of third party insurance issued by an insurance company having reciprocal arrangements with a recognised Italian insurance company with an Italian translation, or insurance bought in Italy through an Italian broker.

It is illegal for yachts to cruise in Italian waters without valid third-party insurance. Yachts which do not have insurance may not be allowed to leave the harbour until they obtain it. Insurance can be obtained locally from an Italian insurance company.

Fees

Sardinia

The previously applied tax on yachts visiting Sardinian ports has now been cancelled. See report

Last updated May 2009.

Restrictions

Underwater fishing with scuba gear is prohibited. Spearfishing is also prohibited for anyone under 16 years old, within 1640 ft (500 m) of a beach or of a fishing boat at anchor. When underwater, the presence of the diver must be shown by a float with a red flag and yellow diagonal stripe.

It is illegal for foreign yachts to charter in Italy. However, if one arrives with a charter party from abroad one can obtain the transit log in the usual way. Neither the charter party nor the crew may be changed while in Italian waters.

Pets

The Pets Travel Scheme (PETS) operates in Italy whereby dogs and cats need to have been microchipped and possess a Health Certificate (which must be in Italian as well as the language of the country of origin). This can be obtained from the local veterinary inspector of the Ministry of Agriculture and should state that the animal is free from disease and has been vaccinated against rabies not less than 20 days and not more than 11 months prior to the date of issue of the health certificate. Animals under 12 weeks old must be declared and examined on arrival.

European Regulations Regarding Insurance Cover and AIS Equipment (13 Sep 2009)

Wintering in Porto di Roma (04 Sep 2009)

Tender Theft in Siracusa, Sicily (06 Jul 2009)

Different Views of Arbatax, Sardinia (25 Mar 2009)

Wintering in Porto di Roma 2008/09 (09 Mar 2009)

Italy, Bay of Cerracavallo - Piracy and its humorous outcome (21 Jan 2009)

VAT and Schengen Visa Clarification (13 Nov 2008)

Attempted break-in to yacht, Bari, Italy (18 Oct 2008)

New Publications from Imray (03 Sep 2008)

Docking in Palermo, Sicily (26 Aug 2008)

Riposto, Sicily - Excellent Marina (07 Jul 2008)

A Spectacle in Porto Cervo, Sardinia - June 2008 (23 Jun 2008)